Beneco makes 37 as barangay campaign starts

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March Fianza

“If there hadn't been you where would I be? If there hadn't been you here for me. I made it through time; I never would've made it through… If there hadn't been you.”

Thus, runs the refrain of a beautiful song by American country singer Billy Dean. It was rendered by the Maintenance Division of the Benguet Electric Cooperative on its 37th founding anniversary.

As dozens of linemen sang, my subconscious told me that perhaps this was their way of thanking co-workers and the cooperative for the life that Beneco has brought them. One can see through the eyes that theirs was a life of sadness and fun.

It was not sunshine all throughout the 37 years of Beneco as there were times when the cooperative was mired in money and organizational problems. Time went by and these kinks were ironed out.

Beneco’s anniversary that falls on October 5 has not been regularly celebrated in the past. That time when its offices still occupied an old house at the Benitez compound, Beneco’s anniversary celebration would just be fine with a bottle of Ginebra or two and a plate of pulutan from Comiles.

This time, I had to attend Beneco’s 37th year anniversary because of the invitation of my friend – Engr. Joey Marrero, Beneco director for La Trinidad and Vice president in the board that I could not turn down, also that my boss – Benguet Congressman Ronald M. Cosalan was the speaker that evening.

Incidentally, it was obvious that aside from Cong. Cosalan and the relatives of Beneco workers, no other individuals who were not employees of the cooperative attended the anniversary. Even Beneco president Ferdy Bayasen wondered why no other public official from Baguio and Benguet was in sight.

Aside from repeatedly congratulating and thanking the workforce and officials of Beneco for their efforts in developing the province, Cosalan said he has started discussing with GM Gerry Verzosa about a program that would answer the concerns of Beneco’s member-consumers.

Compared to Beneco’s present-day celebrations, anniversaries then were simple but equally satisfying for the lineman whose fulfillment is reached after accomplishing another job order.

The lineman’s plain satisfaction and day’s fulfillment is achieved upon knowing that another household in a remote mountainside is energized – a home is illuminated. These things lingered in my mind as the linemen sang to their co-workers “if there hadn’t been you.”

Awards of recognition were distributed to employees who rendered services for five, 10, 15 and 20 years, but personally, I believe recognition should be for the lineman whose blood, sweat and tears practically strengthens the backbone of Beneco.
***

After the barangay elections, campaigning continues in Benguet but this will be for the candidates running for a seat in the board to represent the different towns. For La Trinidad, incumbent director JOEY MARRERO who has been active in looking after the plight of electric consumers will run for re-election.

During his stint he continuously facilitated rehabilitation works and the upgrading of lines and has installed additional streetlights as requested by barangay officials through the mayor’s office – that is, endorsements were made by the previous mayor during the past administration, but this time, of course the requests were endorsed by none other than Mayor Greg Abalos.

The first-ever in the Cordillera, Engr. Marrero together with Councilor Francis Lee initiated the installation of CCTV cameras (closed circuit TV cameras that monitor activities in a target area) in La Trinidad to help out in the peace and order problem.

It was also Engr. Marrero’s idea for Beneco to purchase hotline tools to enable linemen to work without power interruption.

As an unsolicited advise, I ask Beneco member-consumers in La Trinidad to think twice in choosing who they want to send to the board as director or policy maker. I doubt if the other candidates would be able to equal his performance.

I know who the other candidates are but their names are not worth mentioning. In fact, just by looking at their previous performances in their field, I already know their “private” or personal agenda in the board and that is why they want to become Beneco directors.

And so, setting aside friendship, blood relations and other links and think only of the welfare of our member-consumers, it would be best to have Engr. Marrero re-elected.
***
For the barangay elections, three of my friends are in my mind. In Barangay Pico, La Trinidad, civic worker and volunteer of all endeavors DICK OAKES is running for Kagawad.

He has been rendering public service in the community even as he has yet to become one of the barangay officials of Pico. What more if he becomes one?

Dick finished his course in Animal Husbandry at the Araneta University and has engaged in farming business in Barangay Pico in the past. He is active in church activities and participates in benefit concerts for indigent patients being a musician.

When I asked him why he is running for Kagawad and not for Punong Barangay, he said, he simply wants to help incumbent barangay chairman and re-electionist Juan Mendoza who wants to continue all his projects for Pico.

For Barangay Alapang, PAUL CUYOPAN said he has filed his candidacy for Punong Barangay. Like Dick Oakes, he is a musician volunteer in past benefit concerts for indigent patients, the latest performance of which was done for Cynthia Castillo Gabuten, a kidney patient from Alapang.

Paul is not new to public service as he has served in the municipality and the provincial government during the time of his sister Edna who was mayor, then later vice governor of Benguet.

A part-time law student, newspaper writer and singer-musician, Paul says he likes the songs of Kenny Rogers, but it is time that people in Alapang now listen to the songs of Neil Diamond, his favorite musician-artist.

In Baguio, I am endorsing the candidacy of GEORGE “Pok” CHAN for kagawad of Fairview Barangay. As a volunteer and upright citizen, he has initiated the bayanihan system for the concreting of their road that has been neglected for a long time.

He has also been instrumental in the re-allocation of subdivision lots in their barangay in coordination with the previous subdivision owner, with the objective that each household would now legitimately have a lot of his own.

I believe, voters in the barangay elections should choose service-oriented candidates, not candidates who have hidden private interests. –marchfianza777@yahoo.com